Pedro “Pete” Sandoval, formerly of Morbid Angel and now the drummer for Terrorizer and I Am Morbid, has shared that he has at last received a diagnosis of autism.
The 61-year-old musician, who currently identifies as a born-again Christian, revealed that the diagnosis came following an ADOS-2 evaluation, a widely recognized assessment method used internationally in autism diagnostics.
Sandoval addressed the news directly in a post shared on his Instagram account on Thursday, February 5, writing:
“After many years of confusion and misdiagnosis, I’ve finally been properly diagnosed as autistic (Level 1) ADOS-2 module 4 (and some other tests) . This has been part of who I am since childhood, even though for a long time I didn’t have the words or understanding for it.”
“Over the years, this has affected how I communicate, how I process sound, and how I interact with people — sometimes in ways that may have seemed confusing, distant, or misunderstood. It was never about not caring, not listening, or not wanting to connect.”
“Now, at 61 having clarity has brought a lot of peace. It explains so much — and it’s allowed me to better understand myself instead of fighting it.”
“I’m still here, still playing, still creating, still grateful — after back surgery, after life challenges, and now with a better understanding of my own mind.”
“If sharing this helps even one person feel less alone or more patient with themselves or others, then it’s worth it.”
“Thank you for the love and support through the years.”
Sandoval is currently active with I Am Morbid, a lineup that also includes fellow former Morbid Angel member David Vincent on bass and vocals, alongside guitarists Richie Brown (Exmortus, The Absence, Trivium) and Bill Hudson (Northtale, Doro). Sandoval exited Morbid Angel in 2010 after undergoing surgery to address a prolapsed disc.
The current lineup of Terrorizer features Pedro Sandoval on drums, David Vincent handling bass, Brian Werner of Vital Remains on vocals, and Richie Brown on guitar.
